Mike Stern: Miles Davis, Jim Hall & the Creative Process

During the 2015 Newport Jazz Festival, JazzTimes set up a make-shift video production studio backstage inside the old barracks of Fort Adams. During three afternoons, a succession of artists-including James Carter, Arturo O’Farrill, Fred Hersch, Chris Dingman, Kate McGarry, Billy Childs and many others-came in to talk about the festival, jazz education, their creative process and their own projects. You can also see more of these video interviews at the JazzTimes YouTube channel.

In this interview from Newport, guitarist Mike Stern talked about his own musical development and his growth as a musician. He shared some of the music he’s rediscovered (including Jimi Hendrix). He also talked about two important and gifted mentors in his life, each with his own unique personality: Miles Davis and Jim Hall. Stern was performing at the festival with a band he co-led with saxophonist Bill Evans.

Interview by Irene Lee. Video production by Paul Park. Editing by Lee Mergner.

Mike Stern on his early musical development and his introduction to jazz:


Mike Stern on his creative process and music he’s rediscovered:


Mike Stern on Miles Davis and Jim Hall: